Drawing near to God through prayer and creativity

Radical Love

John 18:10-11

10 Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave. 11 But Jesus said to Peter,“Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?”

Matthew 26:51

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

Mark 14:47

And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

Luke 22: 49-51

49When Jesus’ disciples saw what was about to happen, they asked, “Lord, should we attack them with a sword?” 50 One of the disciples even struck at the high priest’s servant with his sword and cut off the servant’s right ear. 51″Enough of that!” Jesus said. Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed it.

Malchus was the head servant to the High Priest. He came to arrest Jesus in the garden. He was Jesus’ enemy. When Peter saw that Malchus was going to arrest Jesus, he drew his sword and cut off Malchus’ ear. He was doing what he thought was right-fighting for his Lord.

But Jesus surprises us and what happens next is what we should ALL be doing, especially in the days ahead. Jesus showed compassion and picked up the man’s ear and healed him. What do you think this did to Malchus? Do you think Malchus was ever the same again? I doubt it. Jesus’ unconditional love graced this event, an event that led up to another one that was filled with hatred, greed and evil. The ultimate sacrifice. One of true love. He bore our sins so we didn’t have to. We are to love one another, just as he does us, despite the circumstances we might find ourselves in or around. Jesus did it hanging and bloodied from a cross, and he commands that we do it also. Let us go forth in the dark world and shine a light for all to see. Offer them healing not hatred. Jesus did. He is the ultimate healer. Our redeemer, deliverer and friend. We MUST look to HIM and not to the world.

We must pray for one another, despite our feelings. This is a spiritual war, not a physical war. Man has made it a physical war.

It is one that we cannot fight alone. We MUST put on the armor of God.

Ephesians 6

The Armor of God

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Paul tells us three times to PRAY!

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About godw1nz

I am the mom of three beautiful daughters, wife to a genius, sister to a teacher, sis-in-law to an engineer, daughter to a yankee and a rebel, and a woman chasing God. I love to read, draw and be with my family. If the reading inspires me, then I draw what I read. Almost everything I draw is based around or about Jesus Christ. I attend church at First United Methodist Hillsville. Ronnie Collins is my associate pastor, also a blogger here.
I love the Lord with all my heart and I hope what you see here will inspire your heart.